Molecular research and the control of Chagas disease vectors

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências

Fernando Abad-franch²  Fernando A. Monteiro¹ 

[1] ,Centro de Pesquisa Leônidas e Maria Deane Fiocruz-Amazônia Coordenação de Biodiversidade em Saúde Manaus AM ,Brasil

关键词: molecular systematics;    DNA;    allozymes;    Triatominae;    Chagas disease;    sistemática molecular;    ADN;    isoenzimas;    Triatominae;    doença de Chagas;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0001-37652005000300007

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Chagas disease control initiatives are yielding promising results. Molecular research has helped successful programs by identifying and characterizing introduced vector populations and by defining intervention targets accurately. However, researchers and health officials are facing new challenges throughout Latin America. Native vectors persistently reinfest insecticide-treated households, and sylvatic triatomines maintain disease transmission in humid forest regions (including Amazonia) without colonizing human dwellings. In these scenarios, fine-scale vector studies are essential to define epidemiological risk patterns and clarify the involvement of little-known triatomine taxa in disease transmission. These eco-epidemiological investigations, as well as the planning and monitoring of control interventions, rely by necessity on accurate taxonomic judgments. The problems of cryptic speciation and phenotypic plasticity illustrate this need - and how molecular systematics can provide the fitting answers. Molecular data analyses also illuminate basic aspects of vector evolution and adaptive trends. Here we review the applications of molecular markers (concentrating on allozymes and DNA sequencing) to the study of triatomines. We analyze the suitability, strengths and weaknesses of the various techniques for taxonomic, systematic and evolutionary investigations at different levels (populations, species, and higher taxonomic categories).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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